What Are The Negative Effects Of Child Marketing?

Our youth have been affected by child marketing for years, yet adults continue to let it pass by, without considering the effect it has. This utilization of the wonderful creation we call television needs to end. It has existed since the nineteenth century and big companies are still taking advantage of children, since they aren’t a very difficult target. After scrutinizing child marketing, it is obvious that it has a harmful effect on our children. With every passing year they are bombarded with ads that reinforce gender stereotypes, manipulate their opinions, and take advantage of them.

Child marketing has many consequences that negatively affect our youngsters. Child marketing can cause childhood obesity. Making things “bright and colorful” attracts anyone’s eye, but children are far more susceptible to this than adults… According to the CCFC, the average child is exposed to over 25,000 ads every year. Think of how many of those

Child marketing has a strong grip on the “television economy”. According to Christine Lagario, eight to twelve year olds spend $30 billion of their own money, and influence $130 billion of their parents. With more and more children being born every single day, these numbers are going to soar. “Marketing also encourages eating disorders, precocious sexuality, youth violence and family stress and contributes to children’s diminished capability to play creatively” (“Marketing to Children Overview”). When I was younger, I can’t remember having an imaginary friend, or an alternate universe of my own, and part of that can be blamed on the Lego company, for persuading me with their products. Big companies like Target and Walmart enforce these thoughts, teaching our children that they need toys to have fun. With the billions that child marketing brings in each year, it would be difficult for these corporations to quit milking the cash